Lab Partners

The dream pop quartet the Lab Partners came together in Dayton, Ohio, in 1998. Singer/guitarist Mike Smith and drummer Matt Schulz had earlier worked together in Honeyburn, and guitarist Kevin Parrett had previously played in Ten O'Clock Scholar. Keyboardist Amy Smith, Mike's wife, completed the original lineup, which released its self-titled debut EP in 1999; Turn It On followed a year later. Schulz then departed to join punk-pop combo Let's Crash and later drummed in Enon as well. With Ian Kaplan installed on drums, the Lab Partners signed to the Big Beef label and cut their first full-length, the excellent 2002 effort Daystar. After the album was finished, Parrett left and was succeeded by another Honeyburn veteran, guitarist Mike Voik.